The Off Topic Topic

[Tonitrus]

Need to start building down!

[Habbaku]

  I'm actually now very interested in the concept. Wouldn't geothermal heating and such make that cheap to climate control as well?

[Tamas]

That solution works if one can build supply to meet demand.  But it is not as simple as fixing a regulatory issue.  Since we can only build up now, the small builder/developer is having a harder time.  Financing and building costs limit the entrants.  And those folks can afford to accumulate land and hold for better profits.

It is in fact capitalism at work.

Well what I see in SE England, at least, is shitton of "green" space (read desolate fields) and phobia of anything taller than 2 floors.

Maybe in case of big cities where there's simply no room, investment could be made to modern transport infrastructure like high speed rail links.

Or indeed just accept that's how big that city is getting. But in case of London and the SE, lack of capacity to raise supply is NOT the issue.

[Eddie Teach]

Nobody wants to live underground.

[Josquius]

In many ways property ownership doesn't make sense these days. The days of a job for life and a stable existence in one town forever and ever are over. People do need to move around a lot more. In a way it could be seen that more people renting and more of a sharing economy model is desirable.

But of course these are peoples homes we are talking about. A very different thing to a car or a hotel. This is one area where the traditional way will not entirely dissappear.

Nonetheless there is a huge trend amongst landlords these days to chase quick money and rents just keep going higher and higher.
We need rental properties to continue to be available but at the same time we don't want to encourage landlords.
It's a tricky one

[Tonitrus]

Nobody wants to live underground.

People say the same thing about Mono-high rises.

[Valmy]

People do need to move around a lot more. In a way it could be seen that more people renting and more of a sharing economy model is desirable.

Do they? Working from home and working remotely seem to be much more common than they were in the past.

[Valmy]

There is a point where your city should stop growing.

Our society is based on the assumption that everything will grow forever. When things stagnate, shrink, or even just grow slower that is generally regarded as a disaster.

Which is a little illogical.

[Tamas]

People do need to move around a lot more. In a way it could be seen that more people renting and more of a sharing economy model is desirable.

Do they? Working from home and working remotely seem to be much more common than they were in the past.

Yes, plus, with current demographics, good luck paying rent after retirement.

[Josquius]

People do need to move around a lot more. In a way it could be seen that more people renting and more of a sharing economy model is desirable.

Do they? Working from home and working remotely seem to be much more common than they were in the past.

More common.
We've still a long way to go until companies accepting remote working as the norm becomes standard.
Even my very relaxed current employer would probably balk if I said I was moving 50 miles away and would work from home most days

[Valmy]

We've still a long way to go until companies accepting remote working as the norm becomes standard.

Maybe, but not nearly as long as we have to go before we change our economic model around home ownership.

[Eddie Teach]

Nobody wants to live underground.

People say the same thing about Mono-high rises.

People need sunlight to be healthy.

[grumbler]

People need sunlight to be healthy.

Sunlight or dietary supplements.  Some people gain mental health benefits from the sun, but these benefits can be gained from light therapy, as well.

[Tonitrus]

Nobody wants to live underground.

People say the same thing about Mono-high rises.

People need sunlight to be healthy.

Presumably, it'd be a place to sleep/spend time at home.  Hopefully one would still get outside and not be a shut-in.  Otherwise, neither high-rise or negative-rise will matter.

[crazy canuck]

People need sunlight to be healthy.

Sunlight or dietary supplements.  Some people gain mental health benefits from the sun, but these benefits can be gained from light therapy, as well.

I have a close acquaintance with a particular sensitivity to light deprivation.  Light therapy helps in the winter but is not nearly as effective as being in the sunlight in summer.

That person is an outlier but I wonder what long term effects of not having access to natural light would be.